ANA 2024 Report to Gram
Louise Boling, field correspondent
Joe and Louise Boling attended the ANA World's Fair of Money 8/6 -- 8/10/2024 in Rosemont, IL. As always, many things were happening. The exhibit area was very popular, with a number of exhibits either placed by Festers, or sure to be of interest to Festers -- if you ever have the opportunity to see the marvelous exhibit on "Zeppelins and the Great War: A Medallic History of German Military Airships in WW1", by Michael Kodysz, take advantage of it. It is a great exhibit, of interest to both flight and numismatic enthusiasts. A number of Festers, as well as others, assisted in judging the exhibits, under the leadership of Chief ANA Judge Joseph Boling. Two sets of lectures were happening -- the ANA Money Talks, and the Sundman Lectures. Steve and Ray Feller gave one of the Money Talks, speaking on "Monies Used at Japanese Internment Camps," illustrated with slides of the notes themselves, as well of the camps. Unfortunately Leo and Momo Feller were unable to attend, due to other obligations. An "almost original" Fester and retired three time March Madness champion, Joe Boling, celebrated two major ANA milestones at this convention -- fifty years of ANA membership and his 49th World's Fair of Money show. Another long-time Fester receiving a notable award this year was Brett Irick, a member of both the ANA and the RCNA. Brett is the 2024 recipient of the RCNA Paul Fiocca Award. This is the highest honor within the RCNA and second highest in Canadian numismatics. This award "highlights the efforts of those who work tirelessly behind the scenes for the betterment of the (RCNA)." Brett received it for "exceptional and enduring contributions to the RCNA." ANA President Thomas Uram had accepted the Fiocca Award on Irick's behalf at the RCNA awards ceremony and presented it to Mr. Irick at the ANA Awards reception. Many Festers were in attendance, among them Jennifer and Eric Kibbey, Clifford Mishler, Kathy Freeland, John and Nancy Wilson, and Tom Hunsicker.
George Cujay was also attending, fresh from a triumphal inaugural paper money symposium, organized by him under the auspices of the US paper money museum in Okoboji, Iowa.
A great time was had by all.
Medal of Honor Quarter
by Bill Myers
Mary Edwards Walker graduated Medical School in 1855 and set up practice in Rome, NY with her husband. The practice failed and she divorced her husband. In 1861 she wanted to help with the Union effort, but the Army would not allow a woman to serve as a medical officer. She worked as a volunteer the Patent Office Hospital in Washington, DC. In 1863 the Army accepted Walker as a Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon which was a civilian position. She would cross the battle lines to treat patients and in 1864 she was captured by the Confederates and spent 4 months as a prisoner of war and was released in a prisoner exchange. In 1865 she was awarded the Medal of Honor for her meritorious service (recommended by Major Generals Sherman and Thomas). She is the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor. In 1916 the medal was revoked, along with those of several other civilians. It was restored by Jimmy Carter in 1977. The quarter pictures Mary Walker wearing the medal on her uniform (she wore it the rest of her life) along with a surgeon's pin on her collar. A pocket medical kit is in her right hand. The Medal of Honor is showcased on the left side of the coin. The uncirculated coin is minted with the P, D and S mintmark, with the latter not released for circulation.
Editorial
We are very sorry about missing the Grams. Of course there are all of the normal excuses, bla, bra, bra. There have been breaks in the past. We all miss the Gram, but this was worse. The missing Grams were over the period of the ANA convention. We had news announcements that should have been published in support of the convention. We are sorry about that.
We, The Boss and I, also missed the convention. We are sorry about that too. We have attended the convention regularly since the 1970s and always have a great time. In this case we had a conflict and were not going to attend. Then we had a medical problem that would have kept us home.
Next year the convention will be in Oklahoma City. That will be the first time in many years that the convention will be in a "new" city. We look forward to that.
I think that we have some backed up news. I have to dig through my pile of unanswered emails. In spite of that, we need your submissions--news, letters, commentary and complaints--to get the Gram back on schedule.
Mail Call
The MPCGram welcomes letters from readers. Letters should be relevant to military numismatics. Letters may be edited. Senders must be known to the Gram and names (actual or "Internet") will be used.
Dear Editor,
Books WANTED:
World War II Paper Money and Financial Instruments of Nazi Germany - Harold Kroll - 2012
1939-1945 SEPT ANNEES DE PEURS ET D'ESPOIRS - J Kleiber - 2014
Contact Marcus Turner maturnerindy@gmail.com
Dear Gram,
Are you still publishing the Gram?
— John
Dear John,
Well, we hope so. Sorry about the break in publication. We will extend your subscription.
— Editor
Movieland magazine cover, July 1944
Dear Editor,
This Movieland magazine cover from July 1944 (which I own) shows an interesting use for war savings stamps. This cover also has a war bond on it.
— Bill Myers
Training Schedule (calendar)
2024 shows
2025
- ANA National Money Show, Feb 27-1 March 2025
- GNA Show, 11-13 April
- MPC Fest 2025 dates--4-6 April
- Michigan State NS--April 10-12
- ANA World's Fair of Money -- 19-23 Aug, Oklahoma City
Please help us fill in the dates for the events listed and give us any additional events that might conflict. Thank you very much.
Resources
MPC Boot Camp by Fred Schwan https://youtu.be/ReL-dBk2cPk
MPCFest sponsors
Joe and Louise Boling, Steve and Ray Feller, Dave Frank, Al Glaser, Dave Hunsicker, Brett Irick, Harold Kroll, Mike Marcil, Bill Myers and Warner Talso.
MPCFest is possible because of the generous support of its sponsors.
Gram Exchange
Do you have something for sale (or trade)? Are you looking for something for your collection? You can offer items here in the Gram or list specific items that you need.
FOR SALE
Send your text and images (!) to the editor for inclusion in the Gram Exchange. Please send the images in jpeg format with each image in a separate file.
List your items for sale here for FREE
New, fifth edition of the standard MPC reference book the Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment Certificates by Schwan and Smulczenski. Now full color and packed with great information. $75 postpaid. No waiting--the fastest service possible. Send your snail mail address via email and we will send your book with an invoice. The digital version of Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment Certificates after some delay is now shipping at $40. Send to fredschwan@yahoo.com.
WANTED
Wanted to Buy [WTB] / In Search of [ISO] $10 Series 1934A North Africa silver certificate with the altered blue seal discussed in October 2022 MPCGram by Larry Smulczenski (Saturski #13) and covered in May/June 2008 SPMC article written by Peter Huntoon and Jim Downey. Please contact Andy Conroy (andyqconroy@gmail.com)
MPC Gram Staff & Info
Publisher and editor: Fred Schwan fredschwan@yahoo.com
Editor emeritus and columnist: Roger Urce stjasele@gmail.com
MPC Gram info: fredschwan@yahoo.com
Financing the war columnist: Warner Talso - wwtalso@gmail.com
Columnist at large: Bill Myers
Columnist at large: Jim Downey - mufelika@charter.net
Columnist: Fabrizio Raponi runfab@gmail.com
Columnist: Louise Boling copperboling@gmail.com
Fest auctioneer: Dave Frank - dave@frankcomputers.com
Fest yearbook editor and photographers: Kris and Cuneyd Tolek - ctolek@yahoo.com
MPC Gram is published by BNR Press as a free service to the community of military money collectors. Your suggestions, criticisms, complaints, editorial contributions, letters, and even praise are very welcome. The entire contents including linked illustrations are copyright protected by the publisher. In the case of contributors, the copyright is protected on behalf of the creators. Please send all correspondence regarding the gram to fredschwan@yahoo.com. Thank you very much for your participation.